Marie Stopes to air first tv ad

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news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8693732.stm

I'm watching 'This Morning' and they are talking about this. Much seems to be being made about the fact that Marie Stopes provide abortions, and very little focus is being given to all the other services they provide. The ad airs on monday, no one has seen it yet, but that doesn't stop some people ranting about 'advertising abortions' Personally, I don't have a problem with Marie Stopes advertising their helpline number.

I don't either.

They are advertising the fact that they give advice. There are a lot of vulnerable women out there who would benefit from that. No one is pushing abortions on people - Marie Stopes is about letting women make an informed choice rather than be pushed into a descision not knowing the full facts.

My DS came from an unplanned pregnancy, and I was lucky enough to have the support of my partner, depsite him having a mini breakdown at that time. It was a really stressful period, and I know I would have benefited from some advice other than my mother telling me that 'spiritually' she couldn't agree with abortions. Thankfully other family members were more supportive, but what about people who don't have that network? That's what Marie Stopes is there for.

I think that its a great thing that Marie Stopes are raising awareness of what they do. My brothers girlfriend was having trouble with her GP not wanting to change her pill brand even though it was making her depression worse. She'd never even heard of a family planning clinic so if she'd seen an advert and knew that there was someone she could ring who could advise her then she could have gone to them or back to the GP better informed.

As far as I can see they aren't even advertising abortion, just giving details of their helpline. How is it wrong that women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy have access to non-judgemental, factual information on their options?

It is all about raising awareness and allowing women the access to information without being judged. It is not an advert saying...thou shalt have an abortion!!! I'd never heard of the charity until a few weeks ago and was lucky enough to get the opportunity to talk to representatives from Marie Stopes. My little boy is in the advert and I whole heartedly support what this charity stands for - freedom of informed choice for women.

I have no problem with Marie Stopes advertising their helpline number, either.

If it's okay to sell products using sex, as so many things are, then why can't a reproductive health provider advertise its services?

Good point, expat.

I think the problem so far is that the marketing agency Marie Stopes are using have decided to not show anybody the ad yet. Apparently this was to gain maximum attention from the media. I think people are just a bit unsure as to what to expect which is why we are having the whole "advertising abortions" storm. I hope the advert is done very sensitively and shows all of the services Marie Stopes have to offer.

Well, personally I didn't know they offered information (apart form pre-abortion councelling). I thought they were private, safe abortion providers. If they do offer other services, then they should advertise that.

I think it's good overall - Marie Stopes is a good organisation. But I do worry that the failure of the NHS to provide abortion on demand to those who need it means that this service is essentially being privatised and I hope that the TV ad doesn't herald the road to the privatisation of abortion services.

herald the road? too late for good english I fear

Marie Stopes and BPAS will ask you whether you're NHS funded or not when you ring them. If you are all you need is a letter of referral from your GP. Many PCTs have contracts with Marie Stopes or BPAS as their access is quick and they provide a good fast service for NHS patients.

Neither the NHS nor the private sector provide "abortion on demand" in the UK, according to current abortion law. Either way you need two doctors to certify that going ahead with the pregnancy would result in harm to the mental health of the woman. You can't just demand it (IMO you should be able to but that's something for the Feminism forum).

Yes I know that there is no abortion on demand - the criteria for termination which dates from the (1967???) act is horribly paternalistic and outdated even if most think it is just a box ticking exercise. It still puts too much power in the hands of GPs - who can delay women's access to abortion by having to refer to a colleague if they object to it.

I think there should be abortion on demand.

I have no problem with the advertising even if they was advertising abortion.

it's no ones business but the women involved, I know if I was raped I'd want an abortion, all the complainers should mind there own business.

if you look at the debate on the BBC news website it's full of what I assume are men babbling on about teenage single mums using abortion as a form of contraception and other such trash.

IT'D be a very expensive form of contraception.

That sounds like a pro-lifer's argument. This callous argument that women get pregnant without a bother planning to have an abortion. You have to wait AGES for a 'free' abortion. The vast majority of abortions are done privately.

Really? in my area the NHS does abortions via marie stopes or BPAS within 10 days.

Good, I'm glad to hear it. If only the same could be said in Ireland where the pro-lifers dictate.

I don't see anything wrong with it, it is offering information not abortions, the right to chose.

You have no right to seek to control other women's lives. Sorry if that is too blindingly obvious, but there you go. You should remember that. There'll always be some rosary beed clacking nut job who wants to 'save de little babies'.

You be in the driving seat of your life and leave other people to manage their own lives.

Well it's not like contraception, I'm sure any women who does get an abortion as a form of contraception is doing so out of desperation, perhaps due to religion or cultural traditions no one would take abortion lightly. I seriously doubt there are any teenagers doing it unless it was for the above reasons, in which case instead of trying to ban the right of women to choose there own destiny, the pro-lifers should be blaming people like them selfs the fanatics of religions and cultural traditions who por scorn on children out of wedlock and the like.

"Sorry Ryoko, but in some instances, abortion is used as a form of contraception and I would wager, considerably more women resort to termination for this reason rather than rape."

More abortions are had by non-raped women than raped women? Is that what you are struggling to say? So what? Do you want women (and girls) to be raped so they 'earn' an abortion? I fail to see how the reasons for an abortion are your business unless it is you having it?

Marie Stopes also provides family planning information including contraception. The two are not mutually exclusive - in fact they go hand in hand.

" Expensive for the taxpayer (mostly)..."
Not as expensive as an unwanted baby.